activate meaning

activate means to make something start working or become active.

activate :

to start, to make active

Verb

▪ The company will activate the new system next week.

▪ The company will start the new system next week.

▪ Please activate your account.

▪ Please start your account.

paraphrasing

▪ start – to begin

▪ enable – to make able

▪ turn on – to switch on

▪ set in motion – to start something happening

activate

Pronunciation

activate [ˈæk.tɪ.veɪt]

The stress is on the first syllable 'ac' and sounds like 'ak-ti-vate'.

Common phrases and grammar about activate

activate - Common meaning

Verb
to start, to make active

Part of Speech Changes for "activate"

▪ activation (noun) – the process of making active

▪ active (adjective) – being in operation or motion

▪ actively (adverb) – in a positive or energetic way

▪ activator (noun) – something that activates

Common Expressions with "activate"

▪ activate a plan – to start a plan

▪ activate a system – to start a system

▪ activate a feature – to turn on a feature

▪ activate an account – to start an account

Important examples of activate in TOEIC

Vocabulary examples from the TOEIC test

In TOEIC vocabulary questions, activate is often used to mean to start or turn on something.

▪Please activate your account to access the system.
▪Please start your account to access the system.

Example of a confusing word: actuate (to put into action)

▪Please actuate your account to access the system.
▪Please put your account into action to access the system.
"Activate" means "to make something operational" or "to turn on," especially in the context of accounts, devices, or systems. In the sentence "Please activate your account to access the system," the usage is correct and natural. "Actuate," on the other hand, means "to put into action" and is typically used in mechanical or technical contexts, not with accounts. The sentence "Please actuate your account" is awkward and incorrect in this context. Therefore, "activate" is the appropriate choice.

Grammar examples from the TOEIC test

In TOEIC grammar questions, activate is used as a transitive verb and requires an object.

▪She activated the new software yesterday.
▪She started the new software yesterday.

activate

Idioms and fixed expressions in TOEIC

activate a feature

means 'to turn on a specific function or option'.

▪You need to activate the dark mode feature in settings.
▪You need to turn on the dark mode option in settings.

activate the system automatically

means 'the system turns on by itself'.

▪The system will activate automatically after installation.
▪The system will turn on by itself after installation.

Differences between similar words and activate

activate

,

start

differences

activate is often used for systems or equipment, while start is more general and can refer to any beginning action.

activate
▪Please activate the new software.
▪Please start the new software.
start
▪Please start the new software.
▪Please begin the new software.

activate

,

enable

differences

activate is to make something active, while enable is to give the ability or permission.

activate
▪They activated the security system.
▪They allowed the security system to detect intruders.
enable
▪They enabled the security system to detect intruders.
▪They allowed the security system to detect intruders.

Words with the same origin as activate

The origin of activate

activate comes from the Latin 'activare', meaning 'to make active'.

Word structure

The word 'activate' consists of the root 'act' and suffix '-ivate', meaning 'to make active'.

Words with the same origin

The root of activate is 'act'. Words with the same root include action, active, activity, actor.

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